Rafael Nadal needed four games to adjust his sights for grasscourt combat at Wimbledon but overcame his early jitters to book his place in the second round.

Nadal overcame the surface tension to book his place in the second round (Picture: Getty)

The world No.2, looking to reclaim the title he won in 2008 and 2010, found himself 4-0 down in the first set against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci on Centre Court before a barrage of heavy hitting took him to a 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-3 victory.

And the second seed admitted he was a touch fortunate to progress in three sets against the 80th-ranked Bellucci.

‘I don’t think I played my best match today. Especially in the first set, I was too nervous and didn’t know what to do,’ said the Spaniard, who has never lost in the first round of a grand slam.

‘But I was able to keep winning. That’s the important thing and the good news. Then I started to play better. The second and third set I played better, even if I made mistakes.

‘I felt in that moment I started to hit my forehand better. That’s the most important thing for me. I finished well, so I’m happy.’

There will be no Australian men in the second round for the first time since 1938 after 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt lost 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, while 20th seed Bernard Tomic was ousted 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 by Belgian wild-card David Goffin.